Ann’s Comments (group member since Dec 20, 2013)

Ann’s comments from the CPL's Book a Week Challenge group.

I think I started reading HP around book 4, and am glad I was able to read the books ahead of the movies. I read the Lord of the Rings early and often, and waited for the movies for years.

I've reread Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, and the J.D. Robb in Death series several times. Rereading a good book is like seeing an old friend again.

I've read it before (more than once- I believe). It's a very atmospheric book, with a tangible sense of place. Can't wait to read it again.

The last two books I read were The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown and The Graves are Walking: The Great Famine and the Saga of the Irish People by John Kelly (fascinating in a really tick you off sort of way). I've pulled out my Hound of the Baskerville and am ready to dive in. :)

I'm not a big fan of true crime, not sure why. But give me a good mystery, and I am happy as a clam. Cozy, historical, any variation on Sherlock Holmes: they're all good.

Recently the books I didn't finish were Fifty Shades of Grey and The Romanovs: 1613-1918. I got through Peter the Great and then ran out of steam, didn't even get to Katherine (I think). One book I wish I could say I didn't finish was The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (ugh), 1600 pages of one life is a bit much.

I love poetry, words that make you see and feel and think. I love the way you can play with words and paint a picture or an emotion. I love all different kinds of poetry and poets: Blake, Dickinson, Whitman, Frost, and, of course, the Bard.

I love curling up on the couch to read (which is why I'm currently looking for a new one- my love seat tries to swallow me whole). I don't have reading habits, I have an addiction. The only place I don't read, is work, and I usually have 2 or 3 books going on at the same time (1 nonfiction, 1 cozy mystery, and whatever else sparks my interest).
I'm currently reading A Mind for Numbers (slow going but worth it- I'm up to page 114 of 294- just looked at the Table of Contents and the book itself ends at page 224, the rest are notes, references, credits, and the index), The Lies that Bind, and Persopolis.

I agree with both the Hunger Games and Stardust (I haven't seen Coraline- and it's been years since I read it). I would also add The Chronicles of Narnia (all 3 that have been made recently- didn't watch the earlier versions). I enjoyed the books, but thought the movies were more engaging.

Some of the cozy mystery writers write food really well. One of the best writers of food was Pat Conroy. The way he wrote about food, you could practically smell it, he even made me rethink shrimp and grits.

Bring on the apocalypse! in books. I've found a couple of good ones: The Defiant Series by C.J. Redwine, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (and a few more who escape me at the moment).

Joanna wrote: "Ingrid wrote: "I am finishing Thr Alienist. It was really good & so descriptive of New York during the time period. The subject matter was a bit uncomfortable, but still worth the read.
The Annihi..."
I loved The Alienist (and the book that came after- The Angel of Darkness). I don't recall a supernatural element, mostly psychology in its beginning as a science that can help solve crimes.

I finished River of Darkness by Rennie Airth, and am now reading Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves (the first in the series). I really enjoyed River of Darkness, and Dead Cat Bounce is a good start to this series. I'm also still working on my two current nonfiction books: A Mind for Numbers and Lean In.

I read ten works of nonfiction last year, and am currently working on two others. I read from both ends of the Dewey numbers: philosophy, sociology, history, biography, psychology, and self- help. This year I've read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and am working on A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley and Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.

I like the idea of the Library Scavenger Hunt and Race the Three Hunters.
My ideas are:
1. Have a cook off/ pot luck with all of the recipes coming from books (no cookbooks allowed).
2. Have everyone come to the cook off dressed as their favorite literary detective,
3. Have a shelving race- with points off for misplaced items.
4. Have a genre based Trivial Pursuit.

I have finished Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev and am currently reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.

I definitely want the "It's Loki's fault" pin.

I'm on the fourth chapter, and so far it's interesting. Can't wait to see what happens next. :)

One of my favorite authors as a child was Louisa May Alcott, I even had a set of her books that I got as a Christmas present one year (I still have 2 of them). I also had a copy of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe which I reread many times. A few years ago, I actually read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series. I haven't reread Alcott, but might try this year.

Shoot, now I'll have to add James Rollins to the mountain of books to be read. :)

I have put it on hold, can't wait for it to come in.